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Hi, I donŽt know where to post this question so I decided for this forum.
Can anyone recommend a good english translation of Tao ?
I have read 2 different translations in danish, and I would like an english one as well.
Any recommendations ?

Hi, I donŽt know where to post this question so I decided for this forum.
Can anyone recommend a good english translation of Tao ?
I have read 2 different translations in danish, and I would like an english one as well.
Any recommendations ?

best regards
Lars

Lars,

The translation I have uses Stephen Mitchell translating. I got him specifically because I liked his translation of the Bhagavad Gita. I'm not sure if the Amazon link works for you, but hopefully this is useful.

The translation I have uses Stephen Mitchell translating. I got him specifically because I liked his translation of the Bhagavad Gita. I'm not sure if the Amazon link works for you, but hopefully this is useful.

Hi Oisin, yes I mean the Tao Te Ching.
Based on a short wiki-read, Red Pine sounds interresting as well.
Do you know if there excists a "Cannonised / Officially acknowledged version" in english / american as well or is this the one, Red Pine I mean ?
Lars

Hi Oisin, yes I mean the Tao Te Ching.
Based on a short wiki-read, Red Pine sounds interresting as well.
Do you know if there excists a "Cannonised / Officially acknowledged version" in english / american as well or is this the one, Red Pine I mean ?
Lars

Sorry, I"m not sure what you mean. The Translation by Arthur Waley seems to be well respected though.

Some of the sommentaries are very interesting if applied to Aikdo and budo in general.

For example, T'e Ching's commentary on the first verse:

"Lao Tzu's philosphy is all here. The remaining five thousand characters merely expound on this theme."(p3)

This can be applied to traditional transmisson in Budo (and other arts) where the essence to the school is contained in the first one or two techniques.

Also, this commentary on the second verse;

Sung Chang H'sing:

"Those who practice the way put and end to distinctions, get rid of name and form, and make of themselves a home for the Way and Virtue."(p6)

The implications of the discovery that the oldest version is actually the Te Tao Ching are significant. What had long been regarded as "the first verse" is actually "the first verse of the second section," and what had been regarded as "the minor second section on governance following the major first section on matters philosophical" is actually "the executive summary of the applications relevant to ruling princes" while the "Tao" section is actually the "additional appendix of philosophical material unlikely to be ready by a busy executive."

Mitchell's various translations are lovely poetry in their way, but inasmuch as he speaks none of the languages from which he is translating, they do have significant limitations.

The implications of the discovery that the oldest version is actually the Te Tao Ching are significant. What had long been regarded as "the first verse" is actually "the first verse of the second section," and what had been regarded as "the minor second section on governance following the major first section on matters philosophical" is actually "the executive summary of the applications relevant to ruling princes" while the "Tao" section is actually the "additional appendix of philosophical material unlikely to be ready by a busy executive."

Mitchell's various translations are lovely poetry in their way, but inasmuch as he speaks none of the languages from which he is translating, they do have significant limitations.

Hope this helps.

FL

Interresting, maybe IŽll just buy all the translations and see which one suits my taste the best...
Afterall.. the Tao that can be named is not the real Tao.. :-)
Lars